Locksmith Animation is a independent CGI animation studio founded by Aardman Animations collaborators Julie Lockhart and former Sarah Smith with the financial backing of Elisabeth Murdoch on 2014. Based in London, England, Locksmith bills itself as "An independent producer of high-quality animated features and series for global audiences.[2]
The company's logo depicts the name in black with the black and orange keyhole being the "I".
The studio's logo with the SISTER byline used in 2021.
Locksmith was founded on 2014 by Aardman Animations collaborators Sarah Smith and Julie Lockhart with the financial backing of Elisabeth Murdoch, the studio was named after Julie Lockhart and Sarah Smith's last names.[3] In April 2014, visual effects studio Double Negative (now known as DNEG) formed a deal with Locksmith where it will provide the CGI animation for Locksmith's films, this was before DNEG's animation division, DNEG Feature Animation (now known as DNEG Animation) was founded.[4]
In May 2016, Locksmith formed a production deal with Paramount Pictures, with Paramount acting as the distributor for Locksmith's films to be produced under the Paramount Animation label.[3] The following year, however, Paramount abandoned its deal with Locksmith when Paramount chairman and CEO Brad Grey was replaced by Jim Gianopulos.[5]
In September 2017, Locksmith formed a multi-year production deal with 20th Century Fox, which would distribute Locksmith's films; 20th Century Fox Animation was brought in to oversee the deal, as Locksmith was aiming to release a film every 12–18 months.[5][6] The first film to be released under the production company was Ron's Gone Wrong, which was released on 22 October 2021 by 20th Century Studios.[5][7] In February 2018, it was announced that Locksmith was developing Wed Wabbit, a live-action/animated hybrid film based on Lissa Evans' children's book, serving as the first live-action/animated hybrid film from Locksmith.[8] In October 2019, while Disney took over 20th Century Animation, Locksmith formed a new multi-year production deal with Warner Bros., which will distribute future Locksmith films under the Warner Animation Group label after the release of Ron's Gone Wrong, which was now the only theatrical Locksmith film to be distributed by 20th Century Studios.[1]
With the release of Ron's Gone Wrong in October 2021, Sister Pictures became the parent of Locksmith Animation since Elisabeth Murdoch is the President of Production of the studio.
In June 2021, it was announced that Natalie Fischer, the former COO of Illumination Entertainment, would step in as CEO. Locksmith co-founder Sarah Smith exited the company to pursue her own creative endeavours. It was also announced that Locksmith is currently in production on The Empty Stocking (now entitled That Christmas),[9] a holiday film based on filmmaker Richard Curtis' children's book series, and they are working on an original musical-comedy film.[10]That Christmas was unveiled in June 2022 as part of Netflix's slate of animated films.[11]
In April 2023, Locksmith rebranded with a new logo, location and colours being orange and blue (sometimes white or yellow).
In June 2023, as part of the rebranding of WAG now called Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, it was announced that the studio had signed a first-look deal with Locksmith to develop and produce animated features for worldwide distribution, which include Bad Fairies and The Lunar Chronicles, with Locksmith's new animation service studio, LSA Los Angeles animating the two films.[13]
In December 2023, Locksmith updated their new website to make their website "Witness the magic".
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